Ahead of their return to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park later this month (24th – 27th May 2019), The Big Retreat Wales has announced the launch of it’s very own gin brand The Cleddau Gin, using their unique festival location and site history as inspiration for the special recipe.
As a festival with passion for everything that makes your feel good, The Big Retreat has teamed up with the self-proclaimed maverick ‘In The Welsh Wind Distillery’ based in Ceredigion to create an exclusive gin that will delight the senses.
Diana Dredge, Co-founder at The Big Retreat Wales said: “We took our inspiration from our amazing festival site and all its history. From the old walled garden, the pineapple house, the rose garden and the history of Pembrokeshire’s hidden waterway – The Cleddau. Standing on the Festival terrace you get a sense of peace, balance and reflection and we wanted to capture this in a bottle”.
Co-founder Diana runs the tutored gin tasting workshops at The Big Retreat. With over 22 years’ experience in the premium drinks industry, Diana describes some of the tastings on the Festival timetable: “Aside from classes making ‘the perfect gin & tonics’, last year we went “Around the World in 80 Gins”. We loved the stories, the botanical selections and the passion behind these brands so much we decided that we too, have a story to tell in Gin”
Having worked with the team at In The Welsh Wind, Diana & the Big Retreat tried many recipes over the farmhouse table to arrive at their favourite. The aromatic pineapple that sits at the heart of the gin reflects the hospitable and ‘open house’ approach to the Festival – it’s a place to come together and celebrate – and it reflects the generosity of spirit from the family who still own the site.
Diana continues: “Of course there’s juniper too – we selected juniper from Macedonia, hand picked and with a delicious depth of flavour. We wanted a traditional gin with a modern twist. Also in the mix is warmth from pink peppercorns and a delicious note from sea buckthorn – representing our littoral location.”
The Cleddau Gin captures the sense of the Festival, drawing on tradition but with a sense of unexpected, a good balance, generous and hospitable – it’s discovery in a glass!”
The Cleddau Gin will be launched at The Big Retreat Wales 24th – 27th May 2019 and on sale to the Public from 27th May 2019. Bottled at 42% ABV and RRP £34.95
